How much does a physical therapist make? Physical Therapist salary and hourly pay
A physical therapist in the US earns a median of $102,760 a year, about $49.40 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $77,140 and the top 10% earn over $135,140. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, California, has a median of $124,190.
Physical Therapist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a physical therapist make an hour?
The median physical therapist earns $49.40 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $37.09 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64.97 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $77,140 | $37.09 |
| Lower 25% | $86,160 | $41.42 |
| Median (typical) | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Upper 25% | $121,160 | $58.25 |
| Top 10% | $135,140 | $64.97 |
Physical Therapist salary by state
Median annual pay for physical therapists in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $97,290 | $46.77 |
| Alaska | $115,280 | $55.42 |
| Arizona | $103,220 | $49.62 |
| Arkansas | $99,010 | $47.60 |
| California | $124,190 | $59.71 |
| Colorado | $102,030 | $49.05 |
| Connecticut | $104,360 | $50.17 |
| Delaware | $102,050 | $49.06 |
| District of Columbia | $101,640 | $48.87 |
| Florida | $101,040 | $48.58 |
| Georgia | $102,700 | $49.38 |
| Hawaii | $101,700 | $48.89 |
| Idaho | $99,000 | $47.60 |
| Illinois | $105,250 | $50.60 |
| Indiana | $101,560 | $48.83 |
| Iowa | $97,560 | $46.90 |
| Kansas | $98,290 | $47.25 |
| Kentucky | $100,710 | $48.42 |
| Louisiana | $98,530 | $47.37 |
| Maine | $99,720 | $47.94 |
| Maryland | $106,890 | $51.39 |
| Massachusetts | $103,790 | $49.90 |
| Michigan | $100,900 | $48.51 |
| Minnesota | $102,010 | $49.04 |
| Mississippi | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Missouri | $99,310 | $47.75 |
| Montana | $91,450 | $43.97 |
| Nebraska | $97,090 | $46.68 |
| Nevada | $111,250 | $53.49 |
| New Hampshire | $99,850 | $48.00 |
| New Jersey | $112,140 | $53.91 |
| New Mexico | $106,880 | $51.38 |
| New York | $100,660 | $48.39 |
| North Carolina | $99,910 | $48.03 |
| North Dakota | $85,330 | $41.02 |
| Ohio | $103,050 | $49.54 |
| Oklahoma | $98,590 | $47.40 |
| Oregon | $103,510 | $49.76 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,380 | $48.74 |
| Rhode Island | $99,400 | $47.79 |
| South Carolina | $101,330 | $48.72 |
| South Dakota | $92,660 | $44.55 |
| Tennessee | $100,140 | $48.14 |
| Texas | $105,810 | $50.87 |
| Utah | $99,880 | $48.02 |
| Vermont | $97,970 | $47.10 |
| Virginia | $101,450 | $48.77 |
| Washington | $105,950 | $50.94 |
| West Virginia | $96,600 | $46.44 |
| Wisconsin | $101,840 | $48.96 |
| Wyoming | $100,400 | $48.27 |
Highest-paying states for physical therapists
- California: $124,190 median
- Alaska: $115,280 median
- New Jersey: $112,140 median
- Nevada: $111,250 median
- Maryland: $106,890 median
The lowest medians are in North Dakota ($85,330), Montana ($91,450), South Dakota ($92,660), West Virginia ($96,600), Nebraska ($97,090). The most physical therapist jobs are in California (26,580 jobs), Texas (21,870 jobs), New York (20,940 jobs), Florida (16,290 jobs), Pennsylvania (11,710 jobs).
How much does a physical therapist make a month?
At the median salary of $102,760, a physical therapist earns about $8,563 a month, $3,952 every two weeks or $1,976 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced physical therapist pay
New physical therapists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $77,140 a year and the lowest 25% under $86,160. The top 25% earn over $121,160 and the top 10% over $135,140. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Physical Therapist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Physical therapist | $102,760 |
| Medical assistant | $45,690 |
| Surgical tech | $64,650 |
| Radiology tech | $80,110 |
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 |
Common questions
How much does a physical therapist make?
The US median is $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a physical therapist make an hour?
The median is about $49.40 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $37.09 and the top 10% about $64.97 an hour.
Which state pays physical therapists the most?
California has the highest median at $124,190, followed by Alaska ($115,280) and New Jersey ($112,140).
How much does a physical therapist make a month?
At the US median of $102,760 a year, about $8,563 a month or $3,952 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level physical therapist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $77,140 a year and the lowest 25% under $86,160, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of physical therapists make?
The top 10% earn over $135,140 a year; the top 25% earn over $121,160.
How much does a physical therapist make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $124,190 in California, $105,810 in Texas, $101,040 in Florida, $100,660 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-1123, “Physical Therapists”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.